Car-coupling



(No Model.)

' B. J. FRENCH 81: J. H.' CARROLL.

GAR GOUPLING.

Pa ed Deo. 16. 1890.

WMM., y

l ATTORNEYS Nrrnn STATES "Friet-i.

BENJAMIN J. FREOH AND JOHN ll. CARROLL, OF DE SMET, SOUTH DAKOTA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 442,772, datedlDiecernber 16, 1890.

I Application tiled September 5,1590. Serial No. 364,040. (No model.)

T0 all 107mm, it 71mg/ concer/t:

Be it. known that we, BENJAMIN J. FRENCH and JOHN H. CARROLL, of De Smet, in the county of Kingsbury1 and State of South Dakota, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Oar-Couplings, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Our invention relates to an improvement in car-couplers, and has for its objectto prov ide a coupling of simple and durableconstruction, capable of use in connection with an ordinary form ot' draw-head, and also capable of ready manipulation from the sides or ends of the car, or from the top ofthe car, or on the ground; and a further object of the invention is to so construct the coupling-hook of the coupler that it will 'effectualiy couple with an opposing coupler of greater or less height.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be herein-after fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the aecompanyin g drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar figures and letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of two opposed couplersin their coupled position. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section on line y fg/ of Fig. l, and Fig. 3 is a transverse sectionon line er, of Fig. l.

The draw-head A may be of any suitable or approved construction. The draw-head represented consists of two parallel longitudinal bars lO, which may be attached direct-ly to the bottom of the car or through the me# dium of a cover-plate 11, secured to the side bars, the side bars being further connected by transverse bars 12 and 13, arranged one at cach end near the lower edges of the side bars. The coupling-hook 14 is formed integral with the outer end of a draw-bar 15, the said draw-bar being pivoted at its inner end to the rear cross-bar 12 ofthe draw-head, and is provided with a downwardly-extending pin 1G near its outer end, adapted to play in a transverse opening 17, produced in thefront cross-bar 13, as shown in Fig. 1. The drawbar is made in two sections hinged together,

as at B, so as to form a lateral elbow connection, the distance between the pintle of the hinge and the pin 16 being preferably equal to the distance intervening the said pin and the outer end of the hook 14, thus enabling the draw-head to break at its hinge in a small space. The draw-bar will also be provided with the usual buffer-springs.

To the knuckle of the rear section of the draw-head one end of a spring 1S is secured, the opposite end of the spring being preferably attached to the adjacent side of the drawhead. The spring 18 is illustrated in the drawings as a spiral spring; but any other form of spring may be substituted if in practice it is found desirable.

The members of a yoke 19 are attached, respectively, to the top and bottom of the forward section of the draw-bar at or near its hinge connection with the rear section, and to the yoke one end of a length of chain 2O is secured, which extends outward through an opening in one side bar of the draw-head, as is best shown in Fig. 3, or instead of said yoke a staple may be used on the side of the draw-bar. The chain is connected with a shaft 21, held to turn in bearings formed upon the outer side of the car. The spring 18 is upon one side of the draw-bar, and the yoke or staple projects in the direction of the opposite side of the said bar. Thus when the shaft 21 is turned the chain 20 is wound upon a quadrant formed upon the shaft, and by this action the jointed portion of the drawbar is drawn laterally in the direction of the shaft against the tension of the spring 18 and the hook le of the draw-bar is carried in the direction of one side of the car or to the uncoupling position. Then the shaft 21 is released by the operator, the spring 18 acts to restore the draw-bar to its normal position.

The shaft 2l is carried upward and manipulated in freight-cars through the medium of a hand-lever 22, projected forward atthelower edge of the car if worked upon the ground, and by a lever at the top of the car projecting backward if the coupling is to be worked from the top of the car.

The hook 14 is provided, preferably, in its outer end with a link-recess 23 and a vertical pin-opening to retain a link in said recess through the medium of a pin, should occasion so demand.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a car-couplcr, a draw-bar constructed in two sections and having said sections hinged to move laterally and one of the sections provided at its outer end with a coupling-hook, and a spring attached to the drawbar at the hinge thereof, substantially as and for theI purpose specilied.

2. In a car-coupling, the combination, with a draw-head and a draw-bar located in the draw-head and constructed in two hinged secdraw-head and connected with the hinge of the draw-bar, a yoke or staple connect ed with the hinge of the draw-bar, extending in an opposite direction to the spring, a shaft provided With an enlargement of diameter at a point in its length, and a chain connection between the said enlargement of the shaft and the yoke or staple, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. In a car-coupling, the combination, with a draw-head having cross-bars located near its ends, and a draw-bar located within the draw-head, consisting of two hinged sections capable ot' lateral movement, the outer section being provided with an integral coupling-hook and the inner section pivoted to the rear cross-ba r, of a spring attached t0 one side of the hinge of the draw-bar and to the draw-head, a yoke or staple also connected with the hinge of the draw-bar and extending from the side opposite the spring, a shaft provided with a quadrant, and a connection between the quadrant and the yoke or staple,` substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

BENJAMIN J. FRENCH. JOHN H. CARROLL. Witnesses:

A. P. SCHEINAN, WALTER N. CARROLL. 

